PH Consulate General in Chicago Signs Donation Agreement with University of Wisconsin-Madison, Aims to Expand Footprint of PH Studies in US Midwest

CHICAGO 26 June 2025 —  In a significant step toward advancing Philippine Studies in the US Midwest, Consul General Melanie Rita B. Diano and Dr. Lesley Bartlett, Associate Dean for Regional, International, and Language Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s International Division, signed a Donation Agreement on 23 June 2025 at the historic Bascom Hall of UW-Madison.

The agreement formalizes the Department of Foreign Affairs’, through the Philippine Consulate General in Chicago, donation to the University’s Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS), aimed at supporting graduate-level field research focused on the Philippines. The grant underscores the shared commitment of both institutions to foster academic excellence and deepen mutual understanding through research-driven scholarship.

Also present at the signing were Dr. Michael Cullinane, Associate Director of CSEAS; Dr. Juan Fernandez, Assistant Professor of Southeast Asian Studies; Consul Ella Karina Mitra; and Cultural Officer Mary Joy Duran-Mortel.

Prior to the signing, Dr. Bartlett expressed her appreciation for the grant, noting its timeliness and importance in sustaining momentum in Philippine-focused academic research. She reaffirmed UW-Madison’s commitment to Philippine Studies and highlighted the critical role of CSEAS in supporting graduate scholars working on Philippine-related topics.

Consul General Diano, for her part, emphasized that the grant reflects the Philippine government’s strong support for meaningful academic partnerships and its strategic goal of expanding and institutionalizing Philippine Studies on a more global scale. She also conveyed the Consulate’s openness to future academic and cultural collaborations with UW-Madison.

Following the signing ceremony, Consul General Diano toured the CSEAS facilities and engaged in a brief discussion with Dr. Cullinane on the Center’s initiatives. Their conversation included the Center’s publication series on the Philippines, its extensive research collections housed in UW-Madison’s libraries, and the array of primary research being conducted on the country.

The Philippine Consulate General in Chicago remains committed to strengthening linkages between Philippine institutions and premier academic centers in the US Midwest to promote greater appreciation and understanding of Philippine culture, history, and society. END

Consul General Melanie Rita B. Diano and Dr. Lesley Bartlett, Associate Dean for Regional, International, and Language Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s International Division, sign the Donation Agreement at Bascom Hall on 23 June 2025.

 Consul General Diano and Dr. Bartlett pose with Dr. Michael Cullinane, Associate Director of CSEAS (2nd from right); Dr. Juan Fernandez, Assistant Professor of Southeast Asian Studies (rightmost); Consul Ella Karina Mitra (2nd from left); and Cultural Officer Mary Joy Duran-Mortel (leftmost) after the signing of the Donation Agreement.

For more information, visit https://www.chicagopcg.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.chicagopcg.com, https://www.facebook.com/PHinChicago/,  or https://www.instagram.com/phinchicago/.